Beyond Expectations

As a further education student, you study at a college which serves the needs of so many but on a shoestring budget. Your college caters to the local community and local employers, and prepares students of all ages for further study and employment.

There are many unique and amazing things about your college that we wouldn’t want to lose.

We know however that there are problems with the way further education is funded and structured. Many students can’t afford to pay for their courses, can’t afford to pay the rent and put food on the table, and have trouble juggling the many responsibilities of a typical further education student.

We want to start a conversation about the sort of education system that can serve the community, that can prepare people for further learning and work, but that doesn't label people as 'academic' or 'vocational' or 'older' or 'younger' because this can only limit their options. It's up to you to decide what FE is for.

That’s why, at this conference, we have provided workshops around the themes of ‘Learning’, ‘Labour Markets’ and ‘Localities’. So whatever FE means to you, you help shape it for the future.